Love Leads at Western but Hears Footsteps

Without looking at the scoreboard, Davis Love III could feel the rest of the field closing in on him.

Scott Hoch. Phil Mickelson. Tiger Woods. Even with three birdies in a row to start the back nine, Love’s lead in the Western Open at Lemont, Ill., was shrinking.

“I was just trying to birdie every hole,” said Love, whose lead is down to one stroke despite shooting a three-under-par 69 Saturday. He had a 14-under 202 total after three rounds.

“I was just trying to get as far ahead as I could. It’s a tough course and one that you like to have a big lead on if you can get it.”

Hoch went on a late tear, making birdies on his final four holes to finish with a 66, matching the low round of the day.

Mark Wiebe, the first-round leader, and Brandel Chamblee are four strokes back. Mickelson (67) birdied three of his last four holes and is five back.

And Woods finally broke out of his “slump” with an eagle and three birdies on the back nine, getting within seven strokes with a 68. He could have been even closer after an eagle and two birdies on the front, but he gave all the strokes back with two double bogeys.

It was the first time in his career Woods has had two eagles and two double bogeys in a round.

Se Ri Pak held off challenges from Meg Mallon and Kris Tschetter to build her lead to four strokes after the third round of the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic at Sylvania, Ohio.

Pak’s two-under 69 left her at 12-under 201.

She has held or shared the lead heading into the final round in eight tournaments in her four years on the LPGA Tour. The only time she lost a last-round lead was at the 2000 Giant Eagle LPGA Classic.

Defending champion Larry Nelson eagled the par-five 17th hole in his second consecutive round of five-under 67 for a share of the lead in the seniors’ Farmers Charity Classic at Ada, Mich.

Bob Gilder followed his opening 65 with a 69 to match Nelson at 10-under 134 on the Egypt Valley Country Club course.

Former NHL player Dan Quinn shot a five-under 67 to tie former major league pitcher Rick Rhoden for the second-round lead at eight-under 136 in the Celebrity Golf Championship at Stateline, Nev. Actor Jack Wagner four-putted the final hole for a triple bogey and was two strokes back after a 68.